HIV/AIDS is a public health crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa. The disease’s widespread prevalence – two-thirds of people living with the disease reside there – has greatly affected the region’s health and economy.

During the fall Nebraska Lecture Nov. 10, UNL virologist Charles Wood will review the historical aspect of HIV/AIDS since its discovery in 1981. Wood, who directs the Nebraska Center for Virology, also will discuss the center’s research activities in the region.

The free public lecture, “HIV/AIDS epidemic: What have we learned in the past 28 years?” will be at 3:30 p.m. in the Nebraska Union auditorium. The presentation is part of The Nebraska Lectures: Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series.

Wood

Wood, the Lewis Lehr/3M University Professor, studies the mechanism of viral evolution in search of an HIV vaccine. He leads a research team that studies how HIV is transmitted from infected mothers to children in Zambia. With funding from the National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Program, Wood also provides AIDS/HIV training for Zambian and Chinese researchers.

In his lecture, Wood will share recent discoveries that could potentially curb the HIV/AIDS epidemic.